A Word from Pastor Assad Saif and a look ahead into the New Year.
If you had one day to live, what would you prioritize most?
There are many answers to this question, however, there is also some clear Biblical priorities to consider as well. I have lived my life in pursuit of Jesus and someday, when I see him in, I greatly desire to look him in the face and say "I did my best to serve you". This Sunday, I am going to share two core values of our church that will help you say the same thing with confidence. I hope to see you Sunday!
Crowd we Evangelize
Luke 5:27-32 NIV
27 After this, Jesus went out and saw a tax collector by the name of Levi sitting at his tax booth. “Follow me,” Jesus said to him, 28 and Levi got up, left everything and followed him.
29 Then Levi held a great banquet for Jesus at his house, and a large crowd of tax collectors and others were eating with them. 30 But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law who belonged to their sect complained to his disciples, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?”
31 Jesus answered them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. 32 I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”
Call to Make Disciples
Matthew 28:16-20 NIV
16 Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Cause for Discipleship
Colossians 1:28-29 NIV
28 He is the one we proclaim, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone fully mature in Christ. 29 To this end I strenuously contend with all the energy Christ so powerfully works in me.
Cost of Discipleship
Luke 14:25-35 NIV
25 Large crowds were traveling with Jesus, and turning to them he said: 26 “If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even their own life—such a person cannot be my disciple. 27 And whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.
28 “Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it? 29 For if you lay the foundation and are not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule you, 30 saying, ‘This person began to build and wasn’t able to finish.’
31 “Or suppose a king is about to go to war against another king. Won’t he first sit down and consider whether he is able with ten thousand men to oppose the one coming against him with twenty thousand? 32 If he is not able, he will send a delegation while the other is still a long way off and will ask for terms of peace. 33 In the same way, those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples.
34 “Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? 35 It is fit neither for the soil nor for the manure pile; it is thrown out.
“Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear.
Watch This Week's Sermon and Discuss
- Is there a sermon point or illustration that you liked or connected with?
- Which Bible verse or verses stood out to you the most?
- Take some time to re-read the Bible verses that stood out to you?
- How do the Bible verses connect to the sermon points?
- How do you think God is speaking to you with these verses?
- What do you think God may be asking you to do with what he is saying to you?
- Think about how you might share this message in your own words with someone.
- Ask God to put someone on your heart to share this message with.
- Who is that person? How will you share God’s truth with them?